College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Wytheville Community College

Wytheville, VA 1,229 Undergrads 40.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$11,952
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$4,037
After Aid
Median Earnings
$34,303
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,037
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$34,303
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate40.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients58.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time51.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS50.6%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$348k
-$41k
-$136k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$341k
-$48k
-$144k
Full Cost$12k/yr
+$326k
-$63k
-$158k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
Never
-1938%
Full Cost$12k/yr
Never
-721%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-1174%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-269%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Construction Trades, General
CertCIP: 4600
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,787
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
CertCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,270
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
CertCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,515
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
CertCIP: 5115
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$31,465
Lifetime Value Added
-$121k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,236
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$8,250
Earnings (5yr)
$50,577
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k

Associate's Degrees

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
AssocCIP: 5108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$47,244
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,045
Lifetime Value Added
-$267k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,904
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,127
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$8,587
Earnings (5yr)
$36,405
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Precision Metal Working
AssocCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$11,497
Earnings (5yr)
$62,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$147k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.